Analysis of the effects of strikes on the academic performance of university students in Uganda. Case study Makerere university school of statistics and planning.

Abstract

The research study was an attempt to analyze the effects of strikes on the academic performance of students in higher Institutions of learning. The case study of the research was in Makerere University Kampala-Uganda School of statistics and planning. It was a descriptive survey in design established to find out the causes of strikes and effects on performance of students and the relationship between concentration levels and strikes occurrence. The study population contained a total number of about 476 students at school of statistics and planning where a purposive sample of 101 (46 males and 55 females) students in year 2 and 3 were selected using Cochrane’s method of sample size determination. Data for the study was collected using self-reporting questionnaires and to determine their reliability, they were pretested using a sample of 10 students. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inference statistics such as mean, variance, frequency tables, graphs and chi-square tests in line with the research questions that sought to find out the causes and impacts of strikes in academic performance of students in Makerere University. The findings revealed that; closure of universities which resulted in extension of semesters, loss of time to study and hence affecting the performance of the students although more students agree that there are other factors affecting the general performance of students.It was found out that during this study majority of the strikes are as a result of increment in tuition and missing marks. The researcher therefore recommended that the institutions maintain a reasonable tuition fee that puts in consideration the ongoing economic status of a particular time. Additionally, lectures can be cautioned to minimise losing students’ marks on ground during marking and when entering the marks in the system.